Pedestal system for tables, bookshelves, shop furnishings and the like

ABSTRACT

A modular pedestal construction composed of a plurality of like modules which may be stacked and/or disposed laterally adjacent one another to form a unit. Each module comprises a bottomless box frame of square horizontal cross section with thin side walls and peripherally extending shoulders having abutment surfaces whose width is equal to the thickness of the side walls so that the module frames may be stacked while their side walls are flush with each other. A thin-walled bottom plate of the same square cross section closes off each bottom module of the unit, each bottom plate having peripherally extending shoulders having abutment surfaces whose width is equal to the thickness of the side walls.

United States Patent [1 1 Bolyos [451 Sept. 11, 1973 [76] inventor: ImreBolyos, Kevingeringen 25.8

18233 Danderyd, Sweden [22] Filed: Oct. 28, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 193,282

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS168,273 5/1951 Austria ..312/l07 254,759 2/1949 Switzerland ..312/l07Primary Examiner-James C. Mitchell A!t0meyKurt Kelman [57] ABSTRACT Amodular pedestal construction composed of a plurality of like moduleswhich may be stacked and/or disposed laterally' adjacent one another toform a unit. Each module comprises a bottomless box frame of squarehorizontal cross section with thin side walls and peripherally extendingshoulders having abutment surfaces whosewidth is equal to the thicknessof the side walls so that the module frames may be stacked while theirside walls are flush with each other. A thin-walled bottom plate of thesame square cross section closes off each bottom module of the unit,each bottom plate having peripherally extending shoulders havingabutment surfaces whose width is equal to the thickness of the sidewalls.

3 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEH SHEE '2 BF 5 PATENIEUSE H3.758.181

snmunrs IJIJIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII PATENTEDSEP-HISH 3,758.18l

SHEETSUFS PEDESTAL SYSTEM FOR TABLES, BOOKSHELVES, SHOP FURNISHINGS ANDTHE LIKE The present invention refers to a pedestal system for tables,bookshelves, shop furnishings and the like.

The present invention relates to a pedestal system or the like,particularly for furniture, such as bookshelves, shop furnishings,writing tables and the like, provided with storage spaces, and theconstruction units from which the pedestal system is constructed.

It is already known within this field to produce variable combinationsfrom mass produced construction elements which can be mounted adjacentto each other or on top of one another, either loosely or by means ofsuitable attachment means, which combinations can be adjusted to therequirements of the place in which they are to be used and assembledthereat. This concept is directed to the possibility of variation,although the objects hither to placed on the market have beenparticularly directed to special areas, for example, bookshelves, doublecombinations, storage room installations etc. In other words, one objector series of objects is adapted to and intended for a particular purposeand, as a result hereof, the number of possible combinations isrestricted.

The object of the present invention is to provide a pedestal systemcomprised of a relatively small number of construction units designedfor massproduction in very large series and which pedestal system has alarge number of combination possibilities and includes storage spaceswhich can be arranged both with and without draws according torequirements.

The invention is mainly characterized in that the system is composed ofmutually similar construction parts which are polygonal when seen inhorizontal section and which can be mounted in superposed relationshipor contiguous relationship and have adjacently lying edge surfaces ofthe constructing members lying in the same plane and can be joinedtogether by means of attachment means to form a unit, the constructionmembers when assembling the units being mounted on or adjacent to anadjacent construction member in arbitrarily selected positions which aremutually displaced in relation to each other at an angle whichcorresponds to the angle between the surfaces forming the polygonalconfiguration.

The invention will now be described with reference to an embodimentthereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1illustrates in perspective a pedestal system comprising fourconstruction units, each construction unit comprising a number of partsor members which can be joined together by means of securing members.

FIG. 2 is a perspective, exploded view showing the construction parts ofan upper and a lower construction unit and a drawer constructed as asliding drawer in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates construction units for constructing a tablestructure.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken through the line I-l of the embodimentof FIG. 1, and illustrating how legs can be mounted to the pedestalsystem.

FIG. 5 illustrates in section an alternative embodiment of theinvention, with which a support structure is mounted on legs with aconstruction unit having the same width as the construction unitsaccording to FIGS. 1-3 but being twice the length arranged on thesupport structure, and having two construction units according to theembodiments of FIGS. 1-3 arranged above said first mentionedconstruction unit.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate embodiments of means for securing theconstruction units.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate means for guiding a sliding drawer in thepedestal systems of FIGS. 1-5 in parallel movement.

FIG. 10 is a section view taken through the line 11-" of the embodimentof FIG. 8.

With reference to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a pedestal systemcomprised of four construction units generally shown at 1, 2, 3, 4. Eachconstruction unit has a construction member provided with a frame 5. Allframes 5 are identical and in the form of a substantially thin-walled,bottomless fox of square configuration, when seen in horizontal section,and having four flat side walls of which side walls 6, 7, 8 can be seenin FIG. 2 and one of which is not shown. The side walls 6, 7, 8 havebottom edge surfaces 6, 7', 8. The frames 5 have a roof member 9 (FIG.2) which is formed integrally with all four side walls. At the junctionbetween the roof structure 9 and each side wall is arranged a shoulder10 having abutment surfaces 11, 12 (FIG. 2). All abutment surfaces 11and 12 have the same height h and width b, the width b of the abutmentsurfaces 12 being equal to the wall thickness 1 of the side walls, thisthickness being substantially the same for all walls. Each abutmentsurface 11 has disposed therein equidistant from the side wallsextending angularly thereto a throughpassing hole 13 at approximatelyhalf the height h/2 of the abutment surfaces 11 and arranged at thebottom edge of each side wall vertically beneath the hole 13 is a hole14 whose height h/2 fromthe bottom edge of the side wall is the same asthe height of the hole 13 above the abutment surfaces 12.

At least one of the side walls of the frames 5 may be provided with arecess 15, which serves either as an opening in which a sliding drawer16 can be accomodated or, quite generally, as an opening to the innerspace formed by the frame 15.

FIG. 2 also illustrates a bottom plate member 17 having the same squarehorizontal section as the frame 5 and a shoulder 18 extending along alledge surfaces and having two abutment surfaces 19,20 which correspondexactly to the previously described abutment surfaces 11 and 12respectively. As with the abutment surfaces 11, the abutment surfaces 19are also provided with a through passing hole 21.

As will be seen from FIG. 2, the illustrated embodiment has a slat 22with a centrally positioned throughpassing hole 23. The length of theslat 22 corresponds to the width of the recess 15. The purpose of theslat will be explained hereinafter. The illustrated embodiment is alsoprovided with a cover member 24 having the same square horizontalsection as the frame 5. The cover member 24 has the form of a lid withan internal profile which coresponds exactly to the shoulder 10 on theframe 5.

The sliding drawer 16 is constructed to fit along the recess 15 and hasside walls 25, 26 which are suitably strengthened by means of an,internally mounted buttress. The sliding drawing 16 is also providedwith a rear side wall 28 which is suitably flat and arranged to slopeinwardly and downwardly, and a front side wall 29 which may be providedwith a handle or the like 30 which is suitably integral with theremaining parts of the drawer.

FIG. 1 illustrates how the described construction components can beformed into a pedestal system. As previously mentioned, the pedestalsystem of FIG. 1 is comprised of four units 1-4, the lower units 1, 2each comprising a frame 5 and a bottom plate 17, FIG. 2. The unit 2(FIG. 1) is also provided with a sliding drawer 16 while the other unit1 is empty and the recess 15 exposed, thereby enabling the inner spacein the unit 1 to be accessible from without. The slat 22 is used to fillthe portion of the shoulder on the bottom plate 17 of unit 1 which isnot covered by any of the side surfaces on the frame 5.

The units 3, 4 with frames 5 are mounted on the units 1, 2, the openingsof the frames being selectively turned to face in the desired direction.The unit 3 is illustrated in FIG. 1 with a sliding drawer 16 and a sidewall of the pedestal system, while on the other hand the frame 5 of theunit 4 is turned so as to hide the opening 15.

Mounted above each unit 3, 4 is a cover member 24, two cover members 24together forming a flat top surface of the pedestal system. As will beseen from FIG. 3, in certain instances it may be suitable to arrange afurther four units so that together with the units shown in FIGS. 1 and2 a square structure can be formed in which the four cover members 24form the surface of a table.

FIG. 4 illustrates a section of a pedestal system according to FIG. 1taken through the line I-I therein. As will be seen from FIG. 4, thebottom plate 17 may be arranged with attachment members 31 for legs 32,the attachment members being, for example, in the form of sockets withone such attachment member being arranged adjacent each of the fourcorners of the bottom plate 17. FIG. 4 also illustrates a method ofassembling the different construction members, although the method ofassembly is illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 6 and 7. It will beevident from the aforegoing that the described through passing holes 13,14 in the frames 5, the holes 21 in the bottom plate 17 and throughpassing holes 32 arranged in a corresponding manner in the edge surfacesof the cover members 24 are positioned such that when the components areput together in the manner shown in FIGS. 1-3, the openings ofassociating and adjacently positioned construction members are inregister with each other. FIG. 6 illustrates by way of example a jointbetween two side walls 6, 7 of two frames 5. When the edge surface 6' ofthe upper wall 6 abuts the abutment surface 12 of the lower wall 7, thehole 14 in the upper wall 6 will be in register with the hole 13 in thelower wall 7. A double headed rivet 33 of adjusted length can beinserted through the holes 13, 14. The rivet 33 is suitably made ofelastic material and may be split along part of its length, therebyenabling the outwardly biased ends to be brought together by means of asmall force to permit the rivet to be inserted through the holes 13,14.As will be seen from FIG. 6, the outwardly facing head 34 of the rivetshould suitably be seated in a countersink 35 disposed in the side wall6, so that the outer surface of the wall 6 is perfectly flat subsequentto placing the rivet 33 into position.

FIG. 7 illustrates the manner in which four adjacently lying frames 5are assembled. In this instance a rivet 36 is used whose length betweenthe rivet heads is twice that of the length of the corresponding portionof the rivet 33.

In the illustrated embodiment, the aforementioned slat 22 with the hole23 is secured to a bottom plate 17 with a rivet inserted through theholes 21 (FIG. 6).

It will be readily understood from the aforegoing, that all jointsbetween the different construction members can be readily obtained bythe rivets 33,36 and that the construction components can be readilydismantled by removing the rivets. Moreover, by means of describedmethod of assembly, the various construction components can be rapidlyand easily changed from one combination to another.

The embodiment of FIG. 4 is also provided with a member 37 for guidingthe drawer 16 for parallel movement. The member 37 is also shown inperspective in FIG. 8 and in section along the line IIII in FIG. 10. Themember 37 is arranged to be placed in a recess 38 located on each of theside walls 25, 26 and at the rear end thereof as illustrated in FIGS. 2and 9. The member 37 is provided with downwardly extending legs 39 and40, between which is formed a slot 41 having a width equal to thethickness of the walls 25, 26. A centre portion of the slot 41 is filledwith an intermediate portion 42 (FIG. 10) which connects the two legs39, 40 together. The intermediate portion 42 is arranged to fit therecess 38. The member 37 is also provided with an upwardly projectingportion 43 and a laterally outwardly projecting portion 44. The portions43, 44 are constructed so that when the member 37 is mounted on one ofthe side walls 25, 26 of the drawer 16 with the intermediate portion 42pressed down into the recess 38 the end surfaces 45, 46 of the portionslie immediately adjacent corresponding inner walls of the frame 5. Thus,in this way, there is provided an effective guide for parallel movementof the drawer 16.

FIG. 5 illustrates a variant of the pedestal system according to theinvention, having a bottom plate 47 of the same width as the length ofone side of the frame 5 and a length which is exactly twice as long.Similarly to the bottom plate 17, FIG. 4, the bottom plate 47 isarranged with an attachment member 48 at each corner for legs 49. In theembodiment of FIG. 5, there is arranged above the bottom plate 47 aconstruction member 50 which has the same rectangular peripheralmeasurements as the bottom plate 47. The side walls on the constructionmember 50 may be provided with a recess 51, thereby enabling the innerspace of the construction member 50 to be accessible from without.Additionally, the construction member 50 is provided at its upper edgesurface with a circumferentially extending shoulder 52 and a centrallyarranged groove 53 having a depth which corresponds to the height of theabutment surface 11, FIG. 2, and a width which is equal to twice thewidth t of the side walls 6-8 of the frame 5.

Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the construction member 50 may bemounted to the bottom plate 47, whereafter frames 5 may be arranged onand adjoined to the construction member 50. Cover members 24 may then bemounted on top of the frames 5.

As will be evident from the aforegoing, the pedestal system according tothe invention may be assembled in a practically unlimited number offorms suited for present requirement using a small number of mutuallysimilar components, and can be assembled to form a stable integral unit.The unit can also be dismantled rapidly and easily when required, andrebuilt to form one or more new units.

Each construction member is formed to render it suitable for extrusionmolding or compression moulding in extended series, a plastics materialsuitably being used.

By colouring the plastics material before extruding or molding, it ispossible to colour the various construction members directly indifferent colours, thereby rendering any form of painting superfluous,which adds to the economic advantages aforded by the present invention.

I claim:

1. A modular pedestal construction composed of a plurality of likemodules, each of the modules comprising a bottomless box frame of squarehorizontal cross section having relatively thin side walls andperipherally extending shoulders having abutment surfaces whose width isequal to the thickness of the side walls, said like modules beingcapable of assembly into a pedestal unit by disposing the moduleslaterally and vertically adjacent one another, the side walls ofvertically superposed ones of the modules engaging the abutment surfacesof lower ones of the modules so that all side walls are flush with eachother, and a bottom plate of the same square cross section closing offeach of the bottomless box frames of bottom ones of the pedestal unit,each of the bottom plates having peripherally extending shoulders havingabutment surfaces whose width is equal to the thickness of the sidewalls.

2. The modular pedestal construction of claim 1, wherein at least one ofthe side walls defines a recess.

3. The modular pedestal construction of claim 1, further comprising acover member of the same square cross section having peripherallyextending flanges whose width is equal to the thickness of the abutmentsurfaces whereby the flanges are flush with the side

1. A modular pedestal construction composed of a plurality of likemodules, each of the modules comprising a bottomless box frame of squarehorizontal cross section having relatively thin side walls andperipherally extending shoulders having abutment surfaces whose width isequal to the thickness of the side walls, said like modules beingcapable of assembly into a pedestal unit by disposing the moduleslaterally and vertically adjacent one another, the side walls ofvertically superpOsed ones of the modules engaging the abutment surfacesof lower ones of the modules so that all side walls are flush with eachother, and a bottom plate of the same square cross section closing offeach of the bottomless box frames of bottom ones of the pedestal unit,each of the bottom plates having peripherally extending shoulders havingabutment surfaces whose width is equal to the thickness of the sidewalls.
 2. The modular pedestal construction of claim 1, wherein at leastone of the side walls defines a recess.
 3. The modular pedestalconstruction of claim 1, further comprising a cover member of the samesquare cross section having peripherally extending flanges whose widthis equal to the thickness of the abutment surfaces whereby the flangesare flush with the side walls.